Posts Tagged ‘Nido Qubein’

"Making a decision usually means taking one of two roads. One is doing the right thing. To take the other road, you have to sit back and spin a story around the decision or action you are taking. If you find yourself thinking up an elaborate justification for what you are doing, you are not doing the right thing." Wayne Sales

If I could share 500 words to inspire, this is the important wisdom I’d want to pass along to others…

The mystery of life is not random or capricious, and our understanding can grow and grow. Nonetheless, it is an unending mystery, and there is always more to know.

Even enlightened beings are still learning, still following their path. No doubt they follow a very elevated path, but a path it still is.

What does this mean, in terms of our daily life?

It means ALLOW the mystery.

Yes, keep on knowing, planning and doing, yet also remember that there is meaning in the cracks in between all the knowing, planning and doing.

It means get comfortable with not-knowing, with those moments where not everything goes according to plan. There may be an even bigger plan at work, a design you are not yet privy to.

Sometimes it takes years to discover the true design. My life has been like that, a series of ‘aha moments’ after the fact. “Ahh, I get it now! I thought I was on the way to point A, but I really was headed to point Z. And point Z feels so right, yet I never would have known to aim for it, for only by heading for point A did I find my way here, to point Z.”

It means self-love. Once we accept that we don’t know – we can’t know – everything, and we can’t be fully in control, we begin to accept our truth and our vulnerability.

And the light between the cracks begins to shine into our lives.

Things that once made us uncomfortable, that we tried mightily to reject, suppress, and deny – all those things now become OK. We have things we wish we did differently, things we wish were different – all this is now OK. It is part of our humanity, and it is beautiful.

We are in transition, on a journey, always, and this leg of the journey isn’t done until it is over. This means we are always a tiny bit lost; we never know exactly what the next step will bring. Yet we can learn to dance in the shimmering light in between our steps, and love the adventure between the ‘sign-posts.’

As clear as our vision may be, we operate on faith, always.

This brings us full circle, back to the mystery, to the life in between the cracks of all our doing, planning, and knowing. The mystery pulsates with meaning and light. It is knowable, but there is always more to know.

The more we welcome the mystery into our lives, the more we partner with it, the easier it becomes to find the balance between doing, planning and knowing, and being more fully in the present moment, at home with our not-knowing.

We become students, not masters, alert to what we do not yet fully comprehend. And the openness of the student is what is truly masterful.

We do not know exactly what the future will bring. Yet, if we hold hands with the unknowable, we will never be alone, even as we step into the unknown.

Promise Yourself Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. Christian Daa Larson 1874-1954, New Thought Leader, Teacher, and Author

There is no past or future for the law of attraction, only the present, so stop referring to your life in the past as very difficult, or full of hardship and pain, or in any other negative way. Remember that the law only operates in the present, so when you speak of your past life negatively the law is receiving your words and sending those things back to you NOW. May the joy be with you, – Rhonda Byrne

If I could share 500 words to inspire, this is the important wisdom I’d want to pass along to others…

Here are a few of the best lessons I can happily share:

1. Life is tough

Agreed, life is filled with trials and tribulations. To say one is happy all the time is a lie. To know happiness is available at any time is a truth. Happiness will not wait for us. Happiness will not invite us to the party. We must invite ourselves to say, “yes”, diving deeply and happily into life… all of it… the ups, downs, twists and turns of our miraculous journey.

Happiness exists in tandem with adversity. Happiness waits in all the nooks and crannies to be embraced and celebrated …ready at any moment. True and lasting joy emanates from thoughts, feelings, perceptions, actions and choices supported by positive self-esteem that oozes worthiness.

2. Nobody can tell us what makes us happy

Society often dictates what we falsely believe creates happiness. Financial success, material wealth, finding the right partner and being part of the right group/club are some examples of external momentary happiness and amusement. Funny how mass media marketing attempts to tell and sell us that happiness can be found in a particular brand of meal, soda, car, etc…if they could only drive home the point of where the joy truly resides, most of us would have more money and less aggravation in pursuing it.

3. Getting hung up on what others do and say really impedes our happiness

Consider turning the screws of your mind a quarter of an inch to change your perspective on a few vital things. Then head out into the world keeping your eyes open looking for the joy in the ordinary moments. Holy cow! You will find some… everywhere you look. It is inescapable. It is not always easy to see.

Firstly, set aside judgment. Secondly, avoid expectation. Lastly, completely relinquish any anger for the things you cannot control locally and globally. After all that said and done; voila there it is, happiness…like a beacon of light waiting to be embraced.

4. Creating happiness requires a little focus

I may not always be happy. Yet, I strive with every step I take and every move I make to approach life with positive intention, grace and an abundance of humour. I am not reliant on the outcome; just the moment. Being in the moment gives me full control of my thoughts, feelings and actions…hence my happiness. Yesterday is history, tomorrow a dream but the present is a precious gift.

This is not a 100% fool proof system. It is a goal to which I wholeheartedly aspire. Life is filled with bad days, sadness and adversity. Living now as if it were the only certain commodity creates mindful awareness and a deeper understanding of my power (both positive and negative).

5. Happiness is an inside job

Happiness resides inside on a deeply soulful level. It cannot be bought, sold or traded. It is a choice we each must make consciously or unconsciously when we awaken each day. How are we going to be with our self? How are we going to show up in the world?

"The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions – the little soon forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment in the disguise of a playful raillery, and the countless other infinitesimal’s of pleasurable thought and genial feeling." Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772-1834, Poet and Philosopher

Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision. Muhammad Ali

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. Einstein

Promise Yourself Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. Christian D Larson 1874-1954, New Thought Leader, Teacher, and Author

You learn in life that the only person you can really correct and change is yourself. You never achieve real success unless you like what you are doing.

Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission.

In youth we learn . . . In age we understand. Enthusiasm finds the opportunities and energy makes the most of them. It takes less time to do things right than to explain why you did it wrong. Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous while anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Managers are people who do things right, and leaders are people who do the right thing. Stan Billue

“Set a goal to achieve something that is so big, so exhilarating that it excites you and scares you at the same time. It must be a goal that is so appealing, so much in line with your spiritual core, that you can’t get it out of your mind. If you do not get chills when you set a goal, your not setting big enough goals.” Bob Proctor

How to Recharge Your Motivation

Sometimes, when you have so many items on your to-do list, getting anything important accomplished becomes daunting. All the menial tasks start to take up the majority of your time and, before you know it, the important things fall by the wayside. Finding the motivation to continue pursuing the things that really matter to you is not something you can just do once. Staying motivated requires taking the time to occasionally re-focus your thoughts and priorities, outline your goals, and do things that help you feel inspired and creative! The practice of recharging your motivation will help you follow through on your goals and make real progress in your life.

Re-examine your focus

Take a minute to reflect on how you currently spend your time. Sometimes, without realizing it, we can get stuck spending too much time on things that aren’t the most important to us. What are your main priorities and goals in life? I have four main commitments in my life that stem from different categories. Each day I try to spend time with my family, working, exercising, and being spiritual. Too frequently, I notice that one area has started to slip and I again need to revisit how I spend my time and allocate more or less time to certain areas.

Get inspired

When you have a big goal that might take some time to accomplish, it’s important to continue to inspire yourself. Spend time in environments that help you feel creative and motivated! Whether you feel inspired walking around the city, getting lost in the library, spending a day at the beach or in the mountains, or even just

talking with people who have accomplished what you’re striving for, make sure you spend time inspiring and motivating yourself to continue pursuing your goals.

Create an end goal

If you’ve noticed that you’ve been less motivated to achieve one of your goals or stick to a priority in your life, figure out what motivates you in that area. For some people, they need to have an “end” in their mind, something to work towards. For example, if you’re a runner, but you can’t find the motivation to hit the trail, you might consider signing up for a race in 3-6 months. With the end goal of the race, you’ll be more motivated to get up and run each day. Whatever your goal is, find something that motivates you to continue working toward it.

Examine your progress

When you’re working toward a goal, a great motivator can be to examine how far you’ve already come. If your goal is to be fluent in Spanish, reflect on how much you’ve learned so far. Maybe now you can have a small conversation in Spanish and understand even more. Take notes of your progress and track how much you’ve improved. The ability to track your progress will help you see that all your hard work is paying off and inspire you to continue.

“Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis.” – Zig Ziglar

When weeds come up in your garden, it does no good to say, ‘There are no weeds, there are no weeds, there are no weeds…’ It doesn’t help to pretend they’re not there. It doesn’t matter how much you focus on the beautiful plants that are growing. The weeds aren’t going to disappear until you get on your hands and knees and pull them out. – In your own life, you can’t just ‘focus on the positive, focus on the positive, focus on the positive’, and expect your problems to go away. If there are some weeds, you have to deal with them.” Bob Proctor

If I could share 500 words to inspire, this is the important wisdom I’d want to pass along to others…

My message to the world comes down to one word: try.

In my lifetime, I have seen too many people afraid to try; too scared to try new things, to try new places, to try meeting new people. Watching them place needless limitations on themselves meant, sadly, watching human potential go wasted. Great ideas, solutions and relationships were never realized or even attempted because they were too reluctant to try. They feared what others may think, they doubted their own abilities or they feared what may or may not happen.

Yet, trying can be liberating, empowering, and even exhilarating.

Trying leads to discoveries – discovering abilities and strengths that you didn’t know you had, discovering your own beliefs and values, and discovering what the big, amazing world is all about.

Trying builds confidence and belief in yourself, even when others may doubt you.

Trying means starting, somewhere, anywhere, and then proceeding one step at a time, no matter how small the step seems.

Trying takes determination and perseverance. When you stumble and possibly even fail, stand up, brush yourself off and try again.

Trying entails taking risks and doing something you haven’t done before. With an appropriate degree of forethought, planning or support in place, take that next step. Was it as risky as you were worried about?

Trying involves solving problems. When one way doesn’t work, try another way and even another. Keep trying until the problem is solved or until it no longer exists.

Trying means stepping out of your comfort zone. What you find out there can be so rewarding, so glorious and so awe-inspiring. You may wonder why you stayed trapped within the confines of your comfort zone for so long.

Go ahead…try…see how far you can go, how much you can accomplish, how much you can become.

"We lift ourselves by our thought. We climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always everywhere." Orison Swett Marden 1850-1924, Inspirational Writer